A Shinobi's Determination

An Anbu scout narrows down the region where Orochimaru is hiding and relays the coordinates to Konoha before wiping away every trace of his own presence. Shizune passes the report to Tsunade, who settles on Kakashi as the ideal investigator. Learning that Kakashi is probably off with Naruto, Tsunade is soon joined by Jiraiya, who has climbed in through her window after checking on the boy, and she catches him up on recent developments.

Over at Ramen Ichiraku, Naruto fumbles his meal because his writing arm is in a cast. Sakura almost helps him eat, Sai volunteers to do the feeding instead, and even Kakashi joins the fussing, all of which sours Naruto's mood. Kakashi reminds him that the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken is now off limits and assures Naruto he regards him as a peer bound for even greater jutsu. Outside, Konohamaru debuts his mastered Shadow Clone Technique alongside a new transformation gag, drawing a swift punch to himself from Moegi before Sakura can react.

Inside Orochimaru's compound, Kabuto escorts Guren to the prisoner pit and tasks her with overseeing a lethal survival contest while keeping some captives alive. Orochimaru admits Guren had once been considered for his next vessel until timing forced him toward Gen'yumaru instead. Nearby, Sasuke channels cursed-seal chakra into his Chidori and notices a quiet boy, Yukimaru, watching him; the two trade a few words about the meaning of home before Kabuto leads the child away.

Tsunade names Kakashi to head the squad assembled to hunt down Orochimaru's lair, and the chosen members turn out to be Team 8. Shino pledges his insects for chakra detection, Kiba and Akamaru offer their tracking of scent, and Hinata's Byakugan rounds out the search plan, though she notes the risk of crossing paths with Sasuke and asks why Naruto is absent. The others agree Naruto could not hold himself back, so he is deliberately left unaware of the assignment. High above the village at Hokage Rock, a downcast Naruto broods over the self-harming flaw of his Rasenshuriken until Jiraiya urges pride in the feat and pitches another training journey.

The episode launches the Three-Tails' Appearance arc and draws on manga chapters 343, 346, and 347. It first aired in Japan on 25 December 2008 and reached English audiences on 6 August 2011. Closer serves as the opening theme and Long Kiss Goodbye as the ending. Yukimaru is introduced here as a figure who will grow central to the arc.